Pole and thill coupling.



No. 718,893. PATENTED JAN. 20, 1903I J. E. ACKERMAN.

POLE AND THILL GOUPLING.

APPLICATION FILED 00T. 23, 1902.

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-Igllu BY Wm M lllrtirnn @rares Partnr OFFICE.

JOEL E. AOKERMAN, OF VALLEY JUNCTION, W'ISCONSIN.

lPOLJE AND Tl-lILl. COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 718,893, dated January20, 1903.

Application tiled October Z3, 1902. Serial No. 128,471. (No mode-1J Toall whom, t may concern:

Beit known that I, JOEL E. ACKERMAN, residing at Valley Junction, in thecounty ol Monroe and State of `Wisconsin, have invented a new andImproved Pole and Thill Coupling, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to improvements in that type of thill and polecouplings in which is included a thill or pole holder detachably securedto the axle-clip; and it primarily has for its object to provide animproved coupling of the character stated of a simple and inexpensiveconstruction in which the thill or pole holder can be instantly attachedto or detached from the axle-clip without the necessity of looseningbolts, nuts, or other like fastener devices.

Myinvention comprehendsacouplingmember having a pintle or stud forengaging a socket in the axle-clip whereby to provide for a quick andpositive attachment of the pole or thills to the axle-clip andautomatically operating spring-catch devices for tirmlyintern lockingthe thill or pole holding member with the axle-clip.

In its more complete nature my invention includes a pole or thill holderand means for connecting the same with the axle-clip, said meansincluding automatically e operating locking devices for joining theaxle-clip and pole or thill holder and for avoiding lateral motion ofthe holder.

In its still more subordinate features this invention consists incertain details of construction of parts hereinafter fully explained,and specifically pointed out in the appended claims, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure l is a perspective viewof my improved pole and thill coupling. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectionthereof. Fig. 3 is a detail View of the thill or pole holder and theaxle-clip portions detached. Fig. e is an inverted plan view of theaxle-clip and the holder connected.

The axle-clip portion of my coupler embodies the usual clip member l andthe clampblock 2, which in my construction is extended, as at 2a, and.provided with an aperture 2b, square in plan view, the purposes of whichwill presently appear.

The pole or thill holder includes a body 3,

having a pendent square spindle 3TL to snugly iit the aperture 2b in thepart 2, and the forwardly-extend ing lugs 3b, apertured to receive thepole or thill bolt, which is made fast by the nut 4C in the usualmanner.

To keep the thill-holder and the axleclip member in aproperly-interlocked condition from separating during jolting of thevehicle, I have provided a simple and easily-manipulated means forinterlocking the said two members, which consists of astout fiat spring5, secured on the under face of the extension 2 of the clamp-block 2.The springis firmly secured at one end to a stud 5, extendedtransversely of the block 2 and held under a strong tension to bear inthe direction indicated by the arrow a; in Fig. /l and over the lowerend of the aperture, as shown.

The spindle or lug 3 on the member 3 is of such length that when the twoparts 2 and 3 are joined its lower end extends below the block 2, andthe extremity of said lower end has its front edge beveled, as at 3X,and at a point over the upper end of the bevel it has a transversegroove or recess 3c to receive the spring 5 when the two parts arejoined.

By reason of the peculiar construction of the several parts as describedand shown it is manifest the holder 3 can be readily connected to theclip member 2 byinserting the stud end 3EL into the aperture 2b, thebeveled end of the stud providing for an automatic interlocking of thesaid member 5 therewith, and as the stud and aperture are square andmade to snugly interengage it is obvious that lateral movement of`theholder is rendered impossible thereby and vertical disconnection avoidedby the spring 5, which can be conveniently sprung out of its lockingposition by pressing its free end in a direction opposite to that shownby the arrow X in Fig. e.

From the foregoing, taken in connection with the drawings, it isbelieved the advantages of my invention will be readily appar ent. I amaware that thill and pole coupling means have heretofore been providedin which the thill-holder is held interlocked with the axle-clip devicesby spring-catches.

My invention, so far as I know, differentiates from what has heretoforebeen provided in this line in the peculiar correlation of the aperturedmember 2, the holder with IOO its spindle or stud, and the novelcombination of the spring-catch 5 with the socket and lug connection.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is-

1. In a coupling mechanism of the character described, the combinationwith the axleclip member formed with an apertured eX- tension 2a and a,pole or thill holder 3 having a pendent spindle 3, said spindle 3ahaving near its lower end a transverse slot 3c, of a; locking member 5pivotally mounted on the under side of said extension 2 and adapted toengage the slot 3 of the spindle 3a, said locking member 5 lyingWhollyin a plane below the under surface of the extension 2a,substantially as shown and for the purposes described.

2. The hereinbeforedescribed improved pole and thill coupling,comprising in combination with the clip member including the block 2,said block having an apertured eX- tension, and the spring 5 pivotallymounted on the lower side of the block to extend over the aperture; ofthe holder 3, having 2t pendent spindle or stud to snugly engage theaperture in the block 2, said spindle having an extension provided witha beveled lower edge, and a transverse recess for coacting with thespring member 5, said spring member 5 lying close to and in a planedirectly beneath the block 2, as and for the purposes described.

JOEL E. ACKERMAN.

Witnesses:

JOHN WHITEAKER, EDMUND SHERWooD.

